Cement-brick machine.



. PATBNTED MAY 24; 1904. .J. LUTTRELL & W. G. GANTRBLL. I

' CEMENT BRICK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001*.5,19"0a.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.-

N0 MODEL.

vwewbow 3*. maxim TH: Norms Fans :0. Pum'omHo. WASHINGTON u. c.

No. 760,888. ,PATBNTED MAY 24;-1904.

- -J. D. LUTTRELL & W. 0. OANTRBLL.

CEMENT BRICK MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0015,1903.

- no MODEL. Mums-Brim 0 I QM a? Q 4 7 w 2 Kb i 22% Kw w "M" w *1 N N I a x w q Q N. g Q m. s

. Q0 I so I 3 Q m l I a m we w l N R m Q (\g amwnbo ru 6am \s WWI/644% m: Norms PETERS c0 Pl-(OTO-LITHQ. wnsmmrro n. c.

N0- 760,888. I .PAIENTE D MA Y24,1904.-

J. D. LUTTRELL & W.,G. GANTRELL' CEMENT BRICK MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 0015,1903.

a sums- 51mm a no MODEL.

mw w \w w E1 n n T N; 7 MN w u -N 9 QM m QN R 1R m L Nb :3 W; N L Q h b 9w? w ww 6m (8w QM QM, .& ww kw Na N 0 I w? and useful Improvements 'in -Cement-Brick Machines, of cation.

- by the bricks or blocks are more perfectly 2O V verticalsectionthrough oneof the mold-boxes, 3 its blocks, the supporting-table, the pallets, F' '4o inafter, reference being had to the accompaeach table with. one or more racks 14 on its,

UNITED STATES Patented May 24, 1904.

PAT NT FIcE.

JOHN D. LUTTRELL Ann WILLIAM o. OANTRELL, or LAKE STATION, v INDIANA. 2

' CEMENTQBRICJK'MACIHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters A nman neaooabr 5, 1903.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, J OHN'D: LUTTRELL,a subject of the King'of England, and-WILLIAM G. OANTRELL, a citizen of the United States, both residingat Lake Station, Lakecounty, State of Indiana, have invented -certain new which the following is a specifi- This invention relates to machines for molding or pressing bricks or building blocks, more particularly to machines of thisclass for making bricks or blocks from a' cohesive composite material, such as a mixture of sand, cement, and other ingedients.

The object of the invention is to simplify and generally improve the structure and mode of operation of machines of this class, wheremade and after being made may be removed from the machine with less danger of injuring them in transferring them to the place where they are subsequently cured."

' The invention will be fully described herenying drawings, in which we have-illustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention, al- 1 though itis to'be understood that we do. not thereby intend to limit ourselves to the particular details of construction illustrated and described. I In the drawings, Figure 1 is afront eleva-Z tion of a machine embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a verti-i cal transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. '1'. Fig. 1 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the partsin a different position;- Fig. 5-is a and brickssupported on-the pallet.

The main frame is indicated by A and provided with a series of cross-bars 10, having grooves 11 in their edges, which receive. tongues 12 on the sides of the tables 13,- and the latter are adapted to slide to and fro across the machine. Some means must be provided to effect the sliding movements of the tables, 3 and for this purpose we preferably provide;

Patent No". 760,888, dated May 24, 1904.

Serial llo. 175,875. (No model.) I i I I I under side,- with which pinions 15 on a shaft 16 engage. The shaft is provided with a hand-wheel 17. to turn it, and when the shaft is turned all the tables will move uniformly toward the front or. rear of the machine. Each table carries a series of blocks B, which form 'the supports for the-bricks while being pressed.- Preferably these blocks are pro' vided with flanges 18, which are secured to I the tables by bolts or other fastening devices. As many blocks B may besupported by each table as desired, four being shown in the presentcase.

Cooperating with each set ofblocks B is a -what greater height than the box, so that I mold-box C, having as many compartments as when'the box is inrits lowest position the blocks will project slightly above its upper edge.- (See Fig. 1.) g The upper endsof the blocksfit the compartments snugly; but preferably the middle portionsof the blocks will be of less areathan the compartments, as

shown in Fig. 4, in order thatany of the com positematerial thatmay work in between the sides of the compartment and the upper edges of the block may drop down and be easily removed from between the blocks. The boxes are to be moved vertically over the blocks and also moved horizontally with the blocks and the tables, this latter movementbeing effected by the racks and pinions before described. ,Any suitable means may be employed to give them the necessary-vertical movement, and in the present case we have illustrated hydraulic devices; but it is to be understood any other means may be employed to-move the boxes.

A series of pairs of vertical rods 20 extend up from the cross-bars 10, to which they are secured at theirlower ends, and their upper ends are secured in the top plate 21 .of the machine. Collars 22 fit loosely on these rods, and the collars of each pair are connected by a bar 23, which is provided with a groove or grooves 2 1, the end bars having only one groove and the intermediate bars having two. The grooves 24 receive the ribs or bars 25 on the sides of the respective boxes, said ribs being clamped to the box by tie-bolts 26 These grooved bars therefore support the boxes, and the latter are free to be moved horizontally on the bars. Extending down from each bar 23 is a pair of rods 27, and the lower ends of all these rods are connected to a bar 28, extending from end to end of the machine. When the bar 28 is moved vertically in either direction, all the boxes C will move with it simultaneously and to an equal extent. In order to move the bar 28, we in the present instance employ a pair of double-acting engines D, and any fluid under pressure may be employed to actuate them, such as steam, water, or air. They will be provided with the necessary supply-pipes, valves, &c., which may be of any well-known construction and which form no part of the present invention and need not, therefore, be particularly described.

In making bricks or blocks from a cohesive composite material it is desirable to move the mold-box down over the brick while the latter is being compressed and after the pressure has been released to continue the downward movement of the box until the brick is uncovered. The engines D are designed to move the boxes to their highest as well as to their lowest position; but they arenot designed to effect the compression of the brick Other means must therefore be provided for this purpose, and in the present case we employ a platen E, which is provided with collars 30 at its ends, which fit loosely on the end pairs of rods 20 and serve to guide the platen vertically. This platen is designed to engage the upper edges of all the mold-boxes and to be depressed and move all the mold-boxes downwardly over the blocks, thereby compressing the material in the boxes between itself and the respective blocks. As considerable pressure is necessary to compress the bricks to the necessary degree, we preferably-employ a pair of hydraulic rams F, the plungers of which loosely engage the platen E. These rams will operate in the usual manner, water being supplied to efi ect the eompression of the bricks and permitted to escape when the compression has been effected. In order to hold the platen at its highest position and to return it after being depressed by the rams, we prefer to employ springs, and in the present case we have provided the platen with a series of vertical rods 35, extending up through openings in the top plate 21, and the springs 36 are coiled around these rods and rest upon the plate 21. Each rod has a nut 37 on its upper end, and when the platen is depressed the springs will be compressed between the nuts and the plate 21. Preferably tubes 38 will be employed to inclose the springs and rods. After the bricks or blocks have been compressed they must be removed from the blocks B, which support them, and as it is necessary to handle bricks or blocks made from cohesive composite material very carefully in order not to break the edges one of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide means for removing the bricks from the blocks without injuring them. For this purpose we employ pallets G, which rest upon the tops of the blocks B, within the respective compartments of the mold-box. Ne also provide each table 13 with an open frame 39, which is supported by brackets 40, extending upwardly from the rear edge of the table. The sides of the frame are rabbeted to receive a pallet 41, which is loosely supported in the frame. The upper surface of the pallet will be in the same plane as the upper ends of the blocks B, and the frame and pallet will move horizontally with the table, the blocks B, and the mold-box. It is, however, necessary to prevent the pallets G and the bricks thereon from moving with the blocks B, and while this may be effected in various ways we preferably support a shaft in bearings 46 on the top plate 21 and provide it with a series of pairs of arms 47 and connect the outer ends of the arms of each pair by bars 48. These arms are of such length that when they are swung downwardly to their lowest point the bars 48 will just clear the upper ends of the blocks B and engage the pallets G. In order to turn the shaft 45 in its bearings, we preferably provide it with a hand-wheel 49; but any other means may be employed for this purpose. It is also necessary to provide some means for locking the shaft against movement when the bars 48 are engaged with the pallets G, and any suitable device may be employed for this purposeas, for example, a pinion 50 on the shaft 45 and a pivoted dog 51, having a bent end to fit between two teeth of the pinion, and thereby prevent it from turning in either direction. The pinion and dog. will also serve to hold the arms 47 and bars 48 in their inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to limit the downward movement of the platen E, so that all the bricks shall be of a uniform size, we provide the rods 20 with adjustable collars '52, with which the platen will engage. ()n the end rods 20 the collars are preferably in the form of nuts, and the rods are threaded and provided with jam-nuts 53. On the other rods 20 the collars are preferably held in place by set-screws 54.

Another important object of our invention is to provide means whereby the mold-boxes may be moved out from under the platen E to be filled with the material to be compressed and be held in the proper position on the blocks B to receive the proper amount of the material. The tables, blocks, and mold-boxes are moved out from under the platen E by the racks 14 and pinions l5, and consequently the bars or ribs 25 will become disengaged from the grooves 24 in the bars 23, and if some means is not employed to prevent it the boxes will slide down over the blocks B until I V v V if arrested by the flanges 18." It is; of course understood that whenthe mold-boxes are to be charged they must be held at their highest position, and in order to do this we providea pair ofgrooved bars 55," supported by standards 56. on the cross-bars 10 in such position that their grooves 57 will aline with the grooves 24 inthe bars 23 when-the mold-box is at its highest position, as seen in Fig.4. When, therefore, the mold-boxes, blocks, and table are moved forward, the ribs or bars 25 will enter the grooves 57 in the bars 55, and the boxes will be supported in their highest position while being charged. l

. As it is preferable that the mold-boxes shall not at any time rest upon the flanges18,this being desirable in order to permit access between the blocks B at their lower ends at all times for the-purpose of removing anything tending to clog them, it is also necessary to provide grooved bars .60, which are also can ried by the standards 56 in such position that their grooves 61 will aline with the grooves 24 in the bars 23 when themold-box is in' its lowest position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

1 When the table, mold-box, and blocks are moved forward to remove the pallets Grand superposed bricks from the blocks B, thebars or ribs 25 will enter the grooves 61, and the mold-boxes will thus be prevented fromslipping down over the blocks and be held in position to enable the'ribs 25 to again enter the grooves-24 when the table, mold-boxes, and blocks are movedback below the platen E.

Such being the preferred construction of suming the parts to be in the position indicated in Fig. 1, fluid is admitted to the under side of the pistons of the engine'sfD,,and the pistons'will move upwardly, carrying with them the bar 28, which in turn will carry up the rods 27, and with them the mold-boxes C, until the latter reach their highest position.' The hand-wheel 17 is thenturned to rotate the shaft 16, and through the medium of the pinions 15 and racks 14 the tables 13, blocks B, and mold-boxes C will be moved toward thej front of the machine into position for the moldboxes to receive the material to. be compressed.

As the table and mold-boxes move forward the ribs 24 will enter the grooves 57 in the bars v and be thereby supported inproper'position to receive therequisite charge of material.

A pallet Gris then placed into eachcompartframe3 9 and its pallet 41. lwill-prevent the pallets and the bricks supported by them from moving with the blocks, the machine, its operation is as follows: As-

then admitted to the .rams F to cause their plungers to descend and force down the platen E until it'engages the tops of the mold-boxes,

and then the fluid which had been admitted to the engines D is permitted to.escape,.and the platen E continuing its downward movement will force the mold-boxes d own over the blocks B and compress the material in the mold-boxes between the pallets G, and the platen E.

. When the platen engages the collars 52 on the rods 10, water will be shut off from the rams and their escape-valve will be opened and .the

springs 36 will act to again elevate the platen ,Fluid is next admitted above the pistons effects a troweling action on the sides of the I bricks and gives them a very smooth finish.

After the mold-boxes have reached their downward limit of movement the dog 51 is lifted out of engagement with the pinion 50, andthe hand-wheel 49 is turned to move the arms 47 and bars 48 downwardly until said bars engage the front edges of the several pallets G, and the dog. 51 is againengaged with the pinion 50 to hold the bars 48 against movement.

The hand-wheel 17 is then turned to move the tables, the blocks, and the mold-boxes toward the front of the machine and with them the As the bars 48 as the forward movement continues the pallet .l 41; will pass underneaththe pallets (Jr until the latter are fully supported by the pallet 41.

The hand-wheel17 is then turned in the opposite direction to move the tables and the pal- I lets 41 toward the rear ofthe machine and to bring the mold-boxes and blocks underneath the platen E. The pallets 41 can then be lifted out of their respective frames 39 and carried away'to the place where the bricks are to be cured, and this can be effected without at any time touching the bricks, so that there is no danger of breaking. their edges or otherwise marring them. After the pallets 41 have.

been removed the engines D are again operated to lift the mold-boxes to their highest position, and the op'eration just described is again repeated. The up-and-down movement of the moldboxes effected by the engines D is uniform at all times, and the upward movement of the IIO boxes is limited by the engagement of the bar 28 withthe stuffing-boxes, through which the piston-rods of the engines pass.

. The'downward movement of. the mold-boxes under the influence of the platen E may be varied, as desired, by simply adjusting the collars 52 upon the rods 20, thereby providing for the manufacture of bricks or blocks of different sizes, as desired.

Without limiting ourselves to the details of construction illustrated and described, we claimi 1. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a block supported to move horizontally,amold-box supported by bars to move vertically on the block, means for moving said bars vertically, means for moving the block and the mold-box horizontally to disengage the latter from its supporting-bars, and means for supporting the box in the same plane when so disengaged, substantially as set forth. 2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of blocks supported to move horizontally, a mold-box having compartments into which the blocks extend, bars by which said box is supported to have horizontal movement, means for moving the said bars vertically, a platen movable vertically to engage the mold-box, means for moving the blocks and mold-box horizontally from below the platen and to disengage said mold-box from its supporting-bars, and means for supporting said box in the same plane when so disengaged, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a table supported to move horizontally, a series of blocks supported on the table to move therewith, a mold-box having a plurality of compartments into which said blocks extend, means for moving said box vertically on the blocks, means for moving the table, blocks and mold-box horizontally, and means for supporting said mold-box against vertical movement when moving horizontally, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a series of blocks supported to move horizontally, a mold-box having compartments into which said blocks extend and provided with ribs on opposite sides, grooved bars supported to slide vertically and which receive said ribs, means for moving the said bars vertically, means for moving the blocks and box horizontally to disengage the latter from said grooved bars, and other grooved bars rigidly supported in position to receive said ribs and support the mold-box when disen' gaged from the vertically-moving bars, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the main frame, of a table supported to move horizontally on the frame, rods extending vertically from the frame, bars supported to move vertically on said rods and having grooves, amold-box provided with ribs extending into said grooves, a block supported on the table and extending into the mold-box, means for moving the said grooved bars vertically to move the box relatively to the block, means for moving the table, block and box horizontally to disengage the latter from the vertically-movable grooved bars, and other grooved bars rigidly supported by the frame in position to receive the ribs on the mold-box and support the latter when so disengaged, substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination ofa table, a block on said table, a mold-box supported to move vertically on the block a pallet loosely supported on the top of the block, means for moving the box below the pallet, means for moving the table, the block and the mold box horizontally, and means for holding the pallet against movement with the block, substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a table a block on the table, a mold-box supported to move vertically on the block, a pallet Gr loosely supported on the top of the block, a pallet 41 carried by the table with its upper surface in substantially the same horizontal plane as the top of the block, means for moving the box below the pallet Gr, means for moving the table, block, mold-box and pallet 41 horizontally to bring the latter below the pallet G, and means for holding the pallet Gr against movement with the block, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a table, a block on said table, a mold-box supported to move vertically on the block a pallet loosely supported on the top of the block, means for moving the box below the pallet, means for moving the table, the block and the mold-box horizontally, a bar supported to swing vertically to engage the front edge of the pallet, and means for looking said bar against movement when so engaged, substantially as set forth.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a table supported to move horizontally, a block secured to the table, a vertically-movable mold for receiving the block, a vertically-movable platen adapted to cover but not enter the mold and push the same over the block, and means for moving the table, block and mold from below the platen, substantially as set forth.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a block supported to move horizontally, a mold-box slidably fitted over the block, a support for the mold-box held against horizontal movement but movable vertically with the box and upon which the box may slide horizontally, and means for moving the block and mold-box horizontally from a compressing to a filling position, substantially as set forth.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a box havinga plurality of mold-cavities therein, and a plurality of blocks slidable in said cavities, of means for moving the mold-box vertically, means for moving said mold-box horizontally, and stationary supports adapted to receive and support said mold-box in an upper position while being filled, and other stationary supports adapted to receive and support said mold-box in a lower position while the bricks are being dismeans for sliding said table laterally tomove charged therefrom. the mold-box from beneath'the platen.

12. In a machine ofthe class described, the In testimony whereof we have signed our combination ofa mold-box having a plurality names to this specification in the presence of 5 of mold-cavities, a series of blocks slidable in two subscribing witnesses.

said cavities, a horizontal reciprocating table JOHN D. LUTTRELL.

upon which said blocks are secured, a platen WILLIAM C. CANTRELL. above said mold-box for compressing the ma- Witnesses:

terial therein, means for moving the mold- WILLIAM P. HARVEY,

- box vertically with relationto the blocks, and LOIS A. BASSETT. 

